Read Ilene Alizah Kaminsky's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Ilene Alizah Kaminsky

Auburn, CA

June 21, 1965 - November 27, 2021

Jun 21, 1965 - Nov 27, 2021

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Ilene Alizah Kaminsky passed away on November 27, 2021, in her home after refusing to succumb to Stage IV metastatic breast cancer (MBC) for seven years. Her extensive knowledge and tenacious self-advocacy were respected and admired by her world-class Stanford oncologist and countless others in the MBC and broader cancer communities, many of whom benefited from the writing and poetry she shared via her blog, her work as an MBC patient advocate, her leadership of cancer healing circles and much more. Her profound mind and soul inspired many and her compassion and empathy stemmed from a heart of gold.

Ilene was born in New York to Len and Elaine Kaminsky on June 21, 1965, the summer solstice. Her enchanting personality, sense of humor and infectious laugh embodied her middle name “Alizah” which means “happiness” in Hebrew. She earned her degree in English Literature from the University of Florida and worked as a senior business strategist and marketer for several technology companies.

Ilene was a polymath (a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning) who excelled at everything she was interested in including cancer advocacy, vintage clothing and jewelry, literature and poetry, travel, photography, gourmet cooking and Zentangles. She lived life with an intense passion, loved to share her discoveries, insights and wisdom with others and treasured her friendship with her many friends.

Ilene’s prolific writing across many genres will live on, as will her doodles and artwork. She left a legacy of so much born out of labors of love and truly lived “closer to her heart”.

Survivors include her husband, Craig Marciniak; her beloved cat Simon; stepsons Cameron and Collin Marciniak; brother Scott Kaminsky and stepsister Jan Farley. Ilene was preceded in death by Leonard Kaminsky (father), Elaine Rothman (mother), Benjamin & Sylvia Rothman (grandparents) and Jack & Leigh Kaminsky (grandparents).

Ilene was repulsed by “pinkwashing” and the billions of dollars spent by for-profit companies on product and cause awareness campaigns vs. direct funding of cancer research. Memorial donations may be made to www.lbbc.org (Living Beyond Breast Cancer), a national nonprofit organization with whom Ilene was affiliated that provides information and support to those who are newly diagnosed, in treatment, post-treatment and living with metastatic disease as well as their caregivers.

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